Electrical installations
Paying attention to installations and faults is extremely important for you and your staff’s workplace safety. Risks associated can be burns, smoke inhalation, electrical shock or even fatality. These faults can cause fire or can melt or damage other appliances or items close by.
Each day workers that pass by are coming into contact with electrical installations, therefore it is important that all staff are correctly trained and have an in-depth understanding towards minimising risk towards electrical installations. Through regular maintenance and keeping the installations according to codes and standards, you can effectively protect those around you and minimise risk of electrical installations.
Voltage levels
Different voltage levels impact the operation and maintenance of an electrical appliance. High voltage installation is the highest risk, therefore a safe clearance distances must always be kept. Power lines and heavy equipment are under use of high voltage electricity between 1,000 volts AC or 1,500 volts DC. Those working near or on high voltage installations must be trained accordingly and competent to perform work with appropriate licenses.
Earthing appliances
Earthing an electrical appliance provides a path for a fault current to flow to earth, protecting you from earth shock, switching off the device through a circuit-breaker/fuse. If the appliance has a fault, the unit will switch off the electrical supply so that it does not cause electric shock to those who touch it, in result minimising electrical risk. It is important that all electrical appliances have been earthed to prevent electric shock.
The more fatal electrical shocks
Often the more fatal electrical shocks have resulted from the following scenarios:
– Electrical equipment that isn’t protected by a safety switch
– Incompetent people performing electrical work
– Incorrect practices, methods, or techniques used by electrical workers
– Working on live installations and not switching electrical source off
– Electrical workers not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) said.
Through completing the flowing safety measures such as earthing appliances, ensuring that all staff are trained accordingly to work on appliances they have been delegated, that all high voltage appliances are not within reach and only qualified electricians work on electrical appliances you can effectively minimize electrical risk in the workplace. For more information about minimising risk from electrical installations in the workplace see the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2013 here.
